Are you following your dreams? (Medium)

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. Im Neil.

Beth

And Im Beth.

Neil

I was a boy, I wanted to be a fireman when I grew up. How about you, Beth? Did have any childhood dreams?

Beth

I wanted to be an astronaut and fly to the Moon…

Neil

were young most of us have big dreams and plans for the future. Unfortunately, as we grow up these dreams often get lost in the adult world of jobs, money, families and careers. But not for everyone…

Daisy, from New Zealand, and, Herman, from Argentina are two people who decided to follow their childhood dreams. They the world to become a utopia  � a perfect, ideal society where everyone is happy and gets along with other. In this programme, well be hearing how Daisy and Herman made their dreams come true  � not by the world, but by changing themselves. And, as usual, well be learning some new vocabulary too.

Neil

But that I have a question for you, Beth. Following your dreams can be tough, but not following them can you regretting all the things you wanted to do but didnt’. In 2012, Australian nurse, Bronnie Ware, wrote her book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, after interviewing terminally ill patients about their life regrets. So, what you think their top regret was? Was it:

a) I wish I hadnt worked so ?

b) I wish I had followed my dreams? or

c) I wish made more money?

Beth

Well, Ill guess its b) they wish they had followed their dreams.

Neil

, Beth. Ill reveal the correct answer at the end of the programme.

Beth

The first dreamer were going meet lives in Riverside, a peace-loving community in New Zealand where everyone shares everything. Riverside members work for the businesses, including a farm, a hotel and a café. All the money they earn is collected and shared between equally.

Neil

Daisy, who was born in East Germany, joined Riverside in 2004. Here she explains her belief sharing to BBC World Service programme, The Documentary.

Daisy

What I think I always believed in is that sharing of resources can provide a group of people with quite a great advantage, but it doesnt matter how hours you work or what work you do, everyone is getting the same amount. And that is something that people outside of Riverside struggle with, and where were often getting this ‘�communism��’ label attached to us, because its … it seems so outlandish for people.

Beth

Riverside isnt a communist community. In fact, people with many different views live there. But Daisy says that local people struggle with the idea that everything is shared. If you with an idea, you find it difficult to accept or think about it.

Neil

Daisy also says some people call Riverside outlandish  � strange and unusual.

Beth

Our second group of dreamers are a family - Zapps. In 2000, childhood sweethearts, Herman and Candelaria Zapp, bought a vintage car and set off from Argentina to around the world with less than 3.500 dollars in their pockets. Twenty-two years and three children later they have over a hundred countries, meeting with countless people and experiences on the way.

Neil

Here, Herman Zapp explains BBC World Services’, The Documentary, how following his dream has changed him for the better.

Herman Zapp

I so happy with the Herman there is now, that I know now  � not the one who wanted to the world, but the one who was conquered by the world. I learn so much from people, and its how the more you meet people, the more you know stories, how much more humble you become because you that you are a beautiful, tiny piece of sand, but a very important piece of sand like everyone is, ?

Beth

After many years travelling, meeting new people and hearing their stories, Herman is more humble  � not or arrogant. He no longer wants to conquer the world  � to control it by force; rather, he has conquered by his experiences.

Neil

Herman compares himself to a beautiful but tiny piece of sand and uses phrase a grain of sand to describe things which are insignificant in themselves, but at the same time are important part of the whole.

Beth

Daisy and Herman are rare examples of dreamers who followed their and found a happy life, lived without regret  � which reminds me of your question, Neil.

Neil

Yes, asked about Bronnie Wares book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. What do you think the number one was, Beth?

Beth

I guessed it was b) not following your dreams.

Neil

Which was the right ! Not having the courage to follow your dreams was listed as the top life regret. At least we have like Daisy and Herman to remind us dreams can come true!

Beth

OK, lets recap the vocabulary from programme, starting with utopia  � a perfect world where everyone is happy.

Neil

If you struggle with an , you find it difficult to accept.

Beth

The adjective, outlandish, means strange and unusual.

Neil

To conquer means to control it by force.

Beth

Someone who is humble is not proud or arrogant.

Neil

finally, the phrase a grain of sand describes something which is both insignificant yet somehow important.

Beth

Once , our six minutes are up. Bye for now!

Neil

Goodbye!